ime while I was a boy,
in study, instead of being only the driver of Ninety-four, I might be
her captain at the very least. You may have got it into your head that
firemen don't know anything except how to use an axe or handle hose; but
it's a big mistake. If you want to keep on rising in the Department,
you've got to have more book-learning than I was willing to get."

When they arrived at the school, 'Lish did not spend very much time in
introducing his _protege_.

"Here's the kid I was telling you about," he said, and then Seth was
left to fight his own battle.

That going to school was not as hard as he had fancied was known at the
engine-house when the amateur returned shortly after nine o'clock, for
then he said with an air of relief:

"I ain't so certain but that I'll like it, after I kind-er get the hang
of things."

"Course you will, Amateur, course you will; but it's bound to be hard
work, and there don't seem to be much chance for play in your life the
way we've mapped it out for you. All hands of us have been figgering how
we'd kind-er let up on you, and it's been decided that you shall sleep
here every Saturday night. What calls come in 'twixt the ending of the
school business and midnight, you're to answer as if belonging reg'larly
to the company."

Seth's eyes glistened with delight, and when he had gone to his room the
driver said in a tone of satisfaction to his comrades:

"That kid is bound to make his mark in the Department some day, and
we'll be patting ourselves on the head for having given him a show. Just
think of a boy like him being tickled way up in G when you give him a
chance to work at a fire! He was reg'larly born for the business."

When Seth arrived at Mrs. Hanson's he found his roommates awaiting his
arrival.

"Didn't you find Sam?" he asked in surprise that they should have
returned so soon.

"That's what we did; met him down by the post-office where there was a
whole crowd of the fellers, an' by this time I reckon he don't think
he's a terrible big man."

"What did he say 'bout givin' Joe Carter sich a yarn?"

"First off he tried to say it wasn't so; but when we flashed up the
letter, it was all over, an' the chump couldn't so much as yip, 'cept to
promise to pay the bill with the very first money he could scrape
together."

"Then you didn't have any row?"

"Not a bit of it."

"I was 'fraid you might thump him, an' the perlice would jump in."

"We didn't reckon on